DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-101, June 21, 2005
Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com
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DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission.
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noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits
For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see
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NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but
have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself
obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn
NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 57:
Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985
Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours
Mon 0330 WOR WSUI 910 Iowa City, http://wsui.uiowa.edu
MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html
WRN ON DEMAND:
http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24
OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]:
WORLD OF RADIO Extra 57 (high version):
(stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx57h.ram
(download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx57h.rm
[Extra 57 is same as COM 05-03, with WOR opening added to hi version]
WORLD OF RADIO Extra 57 (low version):
(stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0503.ram
(download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0503.rm
(summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0503.html
World of Radio Extra 57 in the true SW sound of Alex`s mp3:
(stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_06-19-05.m3u
(download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_06-19-05.mp3
FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1278:
Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-cusb
Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825
ON DEMAND: check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html
UPDATE ON WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS
Hey it works! I'm new to RSS scripting, but I have successfully
figured out how the RSS scripts handle podcasts of multiple episode
programmes. The latest show is World of Radio Extra 57; it is now
available for podcasts as well as WOR 1277.
Many of you will already know this, but using podcast software one
points to the same .xml URL. When an updated episode has been added,
you click on "update", "check" or whatever you software calls it, any
new episodes will be downloaded. By the way I use iPodder; it is free
and works very well.
So the URL you need is http://www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml
You paste it in your podcast reader, you do not click on the link. If
you click on the link you just get to see my raw RSS scripting !
Glenn Hauser has approved this venture, I am pleased he gave
permission.
I'm listening to WOR Extra 57 now, the audio quality appears to be
good. Converting to an MP3 format can degrade audio quality but it
appears to have not lost much. I detect a slight distortion on a few
words at the beginning, but that will improve as I make setting
adjustments on future episodes. Likewise, the first syllable of
"Glenn" is missing at beginning. This is due to the auto-start feature
of my file conversation software, I'll fix that by next episode.
Any feedback on the performance of the podcast, especially audio
quality, is welcome.
The last time I actually talked to Glenn Hauser was back in the early
80's when I was running an "innovative" new service that provided
SWL/DX tips, the DX Newsline from the Washington, D.C. area. That
"innovative" technology was using a "new" concept called voicemail to
leave and hear DX tips. Voicemail was so new then, that I had to
explain how it worked to new subscribers. Fast forward a few decades
and we are now capturing World Of Radio DX tips in high fidelity over
linked computer networks and playing back on 5 ounce digital storage
devices. Times have changed! (Andy O'Brien, June 20, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** ANTARCTICA. With Voz Cristã finally moved off 15475 [see CHILE], I
was obliged to check for LRA-36 at the first opportunity, June 20. I
monitored from 1957 to 2007 or so; now and then there were threshold
traces of a carrier on 15476, which is about all that could be
expected here without a better antenna, sensitivity and conditions. VC
on 15485 from Chile was weaker than usual too, tho readable at times.
It could be that at winter solstice, this late in the day, propagation
on the first hop is beginning to fail, but that can only improve from
now on with later southern sunsets. There was also a very weak carrier
on 15480, which could be a problem in some other locations (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ARGENTINA. Just returned from a working trip offshore in the
Northeastern Pacific (not very pacific much of the time), and had
along the DR-333 and its accompanying signal strength monitoring
program. I had set one of the channels to 1710, and recorded a couple
of definite blips above the noise floor before 1100 UT, about Buenos
Aires sunrise. Never more than a carrier heard, but Buenos Aires
sunrise might be a good time to go after this one in western North
America. best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, June 20, IRCA mailing list via
DXLD)
Weak carrier noticed 0730 UT 06/19/05 on 1709.984 kHz (Albert Lehr -
Livermore, CA, ibid.)
** AUSTRALIA. "Rural Reporter" -- ABC Radio National:
Programmes I Like (#2)
Here's a technicolour programme about a technicolour country.
Rural Reporter, presented by Ruth Archer, is a magazine-style
programme of approximately 28 minutes. Stories from regional and rural
Australia are its focus.
At the start of each edition, the presenter provides a menu, or
billboard, of the items to come. This allows the listener to determine
if there is anything of interest in that particular edition. Then
follow 5 packaged reports from the ABC's vast network of reporters in
various towns and districts all over the country.
These packages are comprised of interviews, discussions, and
explanations of the item or event being covered. In addition, there is
usually ambient sounds of the location from which the reporter speaks.
These local sounds provide an important element of colour, context,
and "feel" for the story.
Report topics are frequently agricultural in nature, due to the remit
of the programme and the nature of the Australian countryside. Also
covered are non-agricultural events in small-town Australia. There are
usually one or two reports of a fun, or whimsical, nature.
Stories come from several states (Western Australia is the
least-favoured), with the transitions being seamless and fluid. It is
often difficult to determine when one report ends and another one
begins.
Rural Reporter is a fun and entertaining programme, providing an
enjoyable means by which to learn more about the people and places of
Australia. It is great to have reports from the field, rather than
interviews in studio or via the phone.
This is a programme not only for those interested in Australia, but
also for all who enjoy the off-beat, and sometimes quirky, life of
ordinary people.
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/reporter/default.htm
Email: rural @ your.abc.net.au
(Peter Bowen, Canada, June 20, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD)
** BELGIUM [non]. RUSSIA (non): Frequency change for Zwart of Wit /
Black or White in Dutch:
0900-1100 Sun June 19 NF 15660 ARM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu, ex 13680
(Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD)
i.e. Vlaams Belang SW broadcast (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD)
** BERMUDA. New radio station, By Stuart Roberts
http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050620/NEWS/106200124
LTT Broadcasting has been granted a radio station licence by Minister
of Telecommunications, Michael Scott. Mr. Scott announced on Friday
that LTT Broadcasting Company Limited was granted and issued a Class
One Broadcasting (Radio Station) Licence to erect, operate and
maintain a radio station.
The new station's call sign will be "BJAZ". Its licence came into
effect on June 9. In April 2004, LTT president Terrence Leo Trott said
he would set up a jazz station, targeting over-35 listeners.
Also on Friday, the Ministry of Works & Engineering & Housing applied
to build a recycling plant at the Government Quarry in Bailey's Bay.
Notice was given to build a plant for the separation and processing of
metal and glass containers. The public has 14 days to object to this
application to the Department of Environmental Protection. The
Bailey's Bay project was expected to be completed by May 2006 (via Kim
Andrew Elliott, DXLD)
Yes, I know, WTFK? In fact, WTBK? (B = band) (Elliott, ibid.)
Nowhere was Bermuda mentioned on that page, but I assume that is where
this concerns; apparently related to the following, altho the non-
Bermudan ``call letters`` don`t match! TFK: (Glenn Hauser, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
NEW FM RADIO STATION LICENSED IN BERMUDA
The Royal Gazette of Bermuda reports that LTT Broadcasting Company
Limited has been granted a Class One Broadcasting (Radio Station)
Licence to erect, operate and maintain a radio station. The new
station, callsign KJAZ, has already been heard testing on 98.1 MHz.
Its licence came into effect on June 9, and owner Ron Trott says he
intends to broadcast financial news and other programmes produced by
American Public Media, as well as jazz and world music.
# posted by Andy @ 15:10 UT June 20 (Media Network blog via DXLD)
** BOLIVIA. Remedios on 90m! 3335.7 to 3336.2, Radio Virgen de
Remedios, Tupiza, Potosí department, 0000-0105, June 20, Spanish,
Christian songs non stop between 0000 to 0058 UT, short song and
complete identification at 0059 by male as: "Usted está en sintonía
con Radio Virgen de Remedios, frecuencia modulada... y en 90 metros";
Other ID as: "Radio Virgen de Remedios, desde Tupiza, Potosí, Bolivia.
Vamos a ir al satélite con Radio Católica Mundial. Sigan en nuestra
sintonía". Afterwards, network with Catholic World Radio and religious
program. 33422 at 0000 and 35443 at 0100 UT. The station varied
between 3335.7 and 3336.2 kHz. I listened to this station from Roque
Pérez, a small rural town to 140 km to south/west of Buenos Aires
city.
3340.2, Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza, 1056-1101, June 20, Spanish,
religious talk by male, 34333 (Arnaldo Slaen, Roque Perez DX Camp,
Argentina, HCDX via DXLD)
** BOLIVIA. Radio Santa Cruz (Catholic Station 6135 kHz) verified my
reception report in Spanish with prepared form QSL card and letter
(giving detailed information about Santa Cruz) in Spanish after 37
days. Station car sticker was also enclosed. QSL signer was Ma.
Yolanda Marco Escobar, Secretaria de Dirección. Address: Radio Santa
Cruz, Emisora del Instituto Radiofónico Fe y Alegría, Casilla 672,
Santa Cruz, Bolivia Telephone: +591 3 3531817; FAX: +591 3 3532257 E-
mail: infacruz @ entelnet.bo Frequencies: AM CP32 6135 kHz 10kW, CP30
970 kHz 10 kW 0900-0100; Stereo 92 92.1 MHz (Takahito Akabayashi,
Tokyo, Japan, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Após quase dois anos de silêncio, a Rádio Gaúcha,
de Porto Alegre (RS), foi ouvida, novamente, pelo colunista, na
própria capital gaúcha, pela freqüência de 11915 kHz. Foi em 19 de
junho, às 0006, quando era irradiado o programa Velocidade na Gaúcha.
É importante ressaltar que a emissora não estava inativa. Muito pelo
contrário, o direcionamento de seus sinais é para outras regiões do
Brasil, daí resultando a dificuldade de sintonia em local próximo ao
seu parque de transmissores.
BRASIL – Atualmente, sessenta e dois canais, em ondas curtas, são
ocupados por emissoras de rádio no Brasil. É o que revela o sítio da
ABERT. Está em tramitação apenas um canal, que será implantado no
estado de Minas Gerais. São Paulo é o estado com o maior número de
canais: 22 (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 19 via DXLD)
** BULGARIA [and non?]. I previously noted that there was a roaring
noise on R. Bulgaria`s Bulgarian broadcast in the 1300 hour on 15700;
June 20 at 1345 there was still some noise, but also a sub-audible
heterodyne, indicating there are two transmitters on almost the same
frequency, so perhaps my assumption was wrong that the Bulgarian
transmitter was malfunxioning. However, there is more than one
Bulgarian SW site (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. O telefone 0800 8917066, que a Rádio Canadá Internacional
disponibilizou, gratuitamente, para que os ouvintes brasileiros entrem
em contato com a redação está sendo alvo de ``brincadeiras, ofensas e
outras idiotices``. É o que informa Luiz Chaine Neto, de Limeira (SP).
A Redação Brasileira da emissora pensa, inclusive, em cancelar tal
modalidade de comunicação. Em todos os demais países da América Latina
o sistema funciona bem, acrescenta Chaine. Seria algo relacionado com
a educação do brasileiro em geral? (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade
DX June 19 via DXLD)
** CANADA. YUKON TOWN REMAINS TRUE TO ITS FRONTIER ROOTS
By Clifford Krauss The New York Times TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2005
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/20/news/dawson.php
(via Gerald T. Pollard, DXLD) Including: how TV came to Dawson
** CHILE. Voz Cristã confirmed as promised from June 20 on 15485 ex-
15475 for Portuguese to Brasil, at 1325 check; as was the case before
the move, I can`t hear any trace of BBCWS, already on 15485. That`s
fine, but I still suspect there is now a collision in West Africa if
not NE Brasil. Now to enjoy Africa No. Un at 1600-1900 on 15475, and
chase LRA-36 1900-2100 on 15476 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) See also ANTARCTICA
** COLOMBIA. 5910, LV de tu Conciencia fair-poor at 0137 6/18 with
Spanish vocals, announcements; IDs at 0153 & 0202; did not hear any R.
Marfil IDs; //6010 covered by R. Sweden via RCI (Jim Ronda, OK, NASWA
Flashsheet via DXLD)
5910, 2335 18/6, Marfil Estéreo - Puerto Lleras, Spanish music,
sufficient (Roberto Pavanello, Italy, playdx yg via DXLD)
** CUBA. Four weeks after RHC supposedly agreed with HCJB to move off
12000 in the mornings, it`s still there, at 1357 check June 20 (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. On Saturdays Radio Martí takes to 530 from time to
time from an airplane-based transmitter. Fidel responds by powering up
a 100,000 watt transmitter on 530 which airs a sampling of Havana
radio stations, most recently Radio Cadena Habana. Most people hearing
Spanish on 530 are probably hearing Cuba because they will leave the
530 transmitter on during the week, but Spanish religion will -not- be
Cuba, although a Fidel speech sometimes sounds like preaching (Philip
Dampier, radio-info DX forum via DXLD)
This is just not factual. The Radio Martí program is congressionally
chartered, and has full disclosure, including its own website. There
is essentially no way to transmit effectively from a plane on an AM
frequency, especially a low-end one. To get a ground, one would have
to have a dipole antenna, and it would need to be over 1000 feet long.
A moving plane could not maintain this vertically.
I have never heard of AM being transmitted from a plane, as AM sites
are, ideally, in soft, loamy soil or salt flats or marshes. High AM
sites are disasters.
Cuba has no transmitters on 530, but the 530 one from the Turks &
Caicos is on fulltime in Spanish with 50 kW serving the Greater
Antilles from the Dominican Republic to Cuba.
I'd love to know the source of this false information.
The only Martí transmitter even remotely like this is the tethered
balloon at Cudjoe key, which transmits TV to Cuba. TV and FM like
height. AM does not (David Eduardo Gleason, ibid.)
I look forward to your profound apology. If you spent 30 seconds
remembering that Google is your friend, you wouldn't have written any
of this.
American armed forces PsyOps airborne units have used mediumwave
transmitters for decades. They were used in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq,
and now Cuba. They not only work well, they cover far beyond
anticipated coverage areas. People in Norway were hearing "Information
Radio" intended for Iraqis.
In this case it's an EC-130 "Commando Solo" aircraft of the 193rd
Special Operations Wing (SOW) is used to broadcast Radio Martí
programs on 530 kHz mediumwave with a power of 10 kW on Saturdays.
``I have never heard of AM being transmitted from a plane, as AM sites
are, ideally, in soft, loamy soil or salt flats or marshes. High AM
sites are disasters.``
Because you have not personally heard of it does not mean it isn't
happening.
``Cuba has no transmitters on 530, but the 530 one from the Turks &
Caicos is on fulltime in Spanish with 50 kw serving the Greater
Antilles from the Dominican Republich to Cuba.``
You are simply incorrect. You can Google dozens of loggings on Cuba on
530, but here is Glenn Hauser's World of Radio summaries. Search for
Cuba and you'll see several reports about the radio war between Martí
and Fidel up and down the page:
http://www.worldofradio.com/wor2005.html
``I'd love to know the source of this false information.``
Are you ready? RADIO MARTI themselves! In fact, visit this web site,
and you'll find an audio recording of Radio Martí announcers promoting
their new 530 frequency!
http://www.malm-ecuador.com/arch-07-08-2004.html
The info about the Cuban transmitters comes from more than a dozen
loggings and detailed discussions about which station Fidel will throw
on 530 next.
Seriously, I don't want to attack you, but the next time you was to
accuse me of throwing around false information, take a moment and do
some actual research yourself first (Dampier, ibid.)
I really doubt this. I worked for Martí in the past, and contacted
several Martí staffers today (I was in Miami) and they said this is a
crock. They tried renting time on the T&C station, but this is
apparently now off the agenda due to budget. There is no airborn
broadcast that anyone, including the programming manager, knows about.
The radio Airbornes, which have been extensively written up, are of
two types. FMs from the air, and AM portable stations, flown in and
assembled on the ground as usual with AM stations. Several of the
equipment manufacturers did mailing on the portable rigs used in
Bosnia. Harris provided the military with several stations in ro-ro
trailers that could be set up in less than 48 hours in occupied areas.
ON THE GROUND.
This would be illogical, and improbable. The 50 kw Turks and Caicos is
only a hundred fifty or so miles away, and has a big tower with a salt
water ground. No airborne signal over the keys could possibly make
landfall in Cuba with T&C on the air. (Of course, what really was
happening is that Martí was trying a conditional rental of the T&C
station --- which has existed for years.)
Since I have been in broadcast engineering, directly as a CE, or
indirectly, for over 40 years and an accomplished MW DXer, I think I
would have heard of this. A fly-in portable rig is not an airborn
stations. It is cargo.
There is no regularly operating Cuban on 530 according to AM DX clubs
(NRC and IRCA); The 530s are in Canada, T&C, Costa Rica, Argentina and
Ecuador. The Hauser publication has been known to contain inaccurate
data. [whew, good thing I`m not publishing Eduardo unchallenged -- gh]
The page talks about Martí on 530 in August of 2004; there has been no
AM DX publication to report this then or now. Any 530 transmission of
Martí was on leased facilities of Turk & Caicos, not an airborn
transmitter and not a separate transmitter. There is a big difference
between an airborn transmitter and rented time on a long-standing
station in "Caribbean."
Strangely, neither the NRC nor the IRCA have reported either. The 530,
of course, is rented time and not a separate transmitter (David
Eduardo Gleason, ibid.)
I don't believe you. Sorry, but this doesn't hold water when you can
read online Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Chairman, Broadcasting Board of
Governors which RUNS Radio & TV Marti through the Office of Cuba
Broadcasting openly discussing it in testimony before Congress. Again,
Google is your friend. He specifically discusses the AIRBORNE AM & TV
broadcasts from Radio & TV Marti. It's not a secret. If you'd like to
produce some names and phone numbers of these people at Martí, I'd be
glad to call them and bring them up to date with what their own
station is doing.
You are referring to a different platforms - the ground based SOMS-B
mobile outfits. I am referring to the airborne facilities. Commando
Solo planes can broadcast on AM, FM, SW and even television. They can
also jam communications.
Information Radio, which broadcast programs to Iraq prior to the
invasion, aired from transmitters on board the aircraft on 693
kilohertz. Since there was no capability for ground based operations
prior to the invasion, Commander Solo flights were the source for the
mediumwave broadcasts. Post invasion, the military brought in the
SOMS-B mobile transmitters. Again, you can read a plethora of articles
discussing the capabilities of these airborne services online
including their successful use in mediumwave broadcast applications.
"The Radio Marti testing initiatives included adding two high power
short-wave frequencies per hour, for a total of six frequencies per
hour over a 24-hour period, and the addition of a second AM frequency
transmitted from the same airborne platform that delivered the
television signal," said Tomlinson. "We also believe the second AM
frequency was clear throughout much of the island," he added.
Martí is building their own ground based transmitter facilities on the
T&C. The planned frequency is 1570.
Open yourself to new possibilities. So when you are given
documentation your answer is just to dismiss the source?
``There has been no AM DX publication to report this then or now.``
...except for the ones you dismissed.
RVC 530 is not airing Radio Martí programs... they have a full
programming commitment on that frequency. Nothing on the T&C is airing
Martí until they finish their own facility which will air on 1570. The
battle is between the Solo airborne MW service and Cuba - it was
logged just a week ago when Havana literally signed off 530 long
enough to check if Martí was on the frequency. When they were, they
signed back on.
But I saved the best for last. You might want to inform those folks
you claim to know at Radio Martí about their own web site, which lists
the Radio Martí broadcasts on 530, and clearly identifies them as
coming from their "airborne" broadcasting service.
http://www.martinoticias.com/frequencies.htm (Dampier, ibid.)
There is no airborn AM broadcasting, period.
The TV operation is airborn in the sense it is done from an antenna
and low power transmitter on a tethered balloon over Cudjoe Key, FL.
TV and FM have the advantage that, directionalized, they can get large
antenna gain with a low power transmitter.
AM transmitters are big and inefficient. Even the latest Harris, BE
and Nautels are huge, and use huge amounts of electricity.
A 10 KW FM lobe could be aimed at Cuba from the balloon using a 500
watt rig into a very directional antenna, and FM transmitters are very
efficient. Less than 1 kw will run the transmitter and related audio
gear.
A 10 kw AM (Medium Wave) signal can not be directionalized while
airborne, as directionality is a function of very considerable
differences in phase and wavelength difference between multiple
radiators. So to put out 10 kw would require well over 20 kw of power.
Not only is that not going to happen from a plane (again, a wavelength
on 530 is around 600 meters... nearly 2000 feet. A quarter wave dipole
is going to be 1000 feet long, and there is no way to feed such a
contraption from the air since it requires a center feed.
And, finally, there is a 50,000 station on 530 just a tiny distance
over salt water from Miami. In fact, it can be heard daytime easily
all along the eastern seabord of FL, although its target is Hispaniola
and Cuba. There is no way the US is going to put Martí on 530, since
it would require 100 to 200 kw to overpower Radio Vision Cristiana,
not to mention the public relations debacle that such a jamming of a
US owned religious station would produce.
(Which is why Martí rents RVC on Saturdays in a short term deal to see
if 530, daytime, is better than 1180)
I certainly am not going to give out phone numbers of friends to
someone who insists Marti has an airborne station on 530... any more
than I would give you my social security number. I have managed,
consulted and programmed stations in Miami going back to the early
70's and a large number of the Martí staff has worked with me or for
me.
May I see one picture of an AM airborn antenna... especially one that,
using low power and an antenna with no ground system can overcome a
50,000 watt station with a salt water ground just a tiny distance away
(no distance, if you consider the conductivity of salt water is 5000)
Links, please. Especially ones that show how an incredibly inefficient
airborne radiator could overcome a land based system sitting right
below it with infinitely more power.
I truly suspect the airbornes you refer to were FM or TV, which is
pretty easy to do (Indiana broadcast educational TV from a pair of
DC3's with fold-our superturnstyle antennas as far back as the 60's.
But AM works when grounded, not when in the air.
This is a balloon. It could not hold a directional SW antenna if it
tried. In fact, Martí SW comes from Greenville, SC [sic --- don`t
forget Delano CA --- gh], and occupies a huge amount of real estate.
AM on a balloon from Cudjoe would have gotten wide reports... and not
one US MW club has mentioned it once, since it does not exist... this
is a daytime Saturday brokered show on RVC in the Turks and Caicos
Islands.
```"We also believe the second AM frequency was clear throughout much
of the island," he added.```
Because it is RVC's Turks transmitter.
There was a station on 1570 there before. There are also several
1570's in the Dominican Republic, which would be of significant
interference. And ground conductivity, even over salt water, on 1570
means the signal would only be useful right along the beach... it
would die within kilometers of the shore.
``it was logged just a week ago when Havana literally signed off 530
long enough to check if Marti was on the frequency. When they were,
they signed back on.``
Per one DXer who has been invited to not participate in the two US MW
clubs.
There is no way, with the Turks and caicos RVC on the air, for a
intended for Cuba to be broadcast --- because the RVC transmitter was
located in the T&C to broadcast the Gospel to Cuba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a 50,000 watt station with a salt water ground --- it
essentially lands on Cuba with a city grade signal all the way to La
Habana.
``Radio Martí about their own web site, which lists the Radio Martí
broadcasts on 530, and clearly identifies them as coming from their
"airborne" broadcasting service.``
Which is, as can be seen, simply a mistake. There is no SW
transmission from the balloon, either.
If you want, we can take the websites of a random selection of US
radio stations and I wager that each one will have a significant
number of pieces of incorrect or outdated data on them (David Eduardo
Gleason, ibid.)
I guess it's a pride thing now because we are expected to believe that
you know better than the guy who runs the whole Office of Cuba
Broadcast operation, the people that actually operate and fly the
Commando Solo missions, the individuals that have logged these
signals, RVC themselves which say they are not broadcasting any Radio
Martí programming on 530 because they have a full schedule of their
own programming, Radio Martí's own website, the recordings of Radio
Martí made on 530, the government's own documents authorizing the
construction of a facility on the T&C on 1570. They are apparently all
wrong, but you are somehow right.
I don't think so. In other words, you fold. It's okay to try and use
these people to bolster your argument, but if anyone wants to check it
out, then it's suddenly Deep Throat around here.
Google is your friend, for the third time. BTW, this is from the U.S.
Air Force's own public information about Commando Solo:
"Air Force Mission: Commando Solo conducts psychological operations
and civil affairs broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV
and military communications bands. Missions are flown at maximum
altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns. The EC-130
flies during either day or night scenarios with equal success, and is
air refuelable. A typical mission consists of a single-ship orbit
which is offset from the desired target audience. The targets may be
either military or civilian personnel."
``Links, please. Especially ones that show how an incredibly
inefficient airborne radiator could overcome a land based system
sitting right below it with infinitely more power.``
This is your argument. You are the only one saying AM airborne
broadcasting can never ever work. Find your own links to prove your
point. I've got a crowd behind me. You are standing alone at the
moment.
Nobody denies they can do FM or TV, but the government's own
representatives and documents and testimony before Congress say they
include and use AM as well. You are the only one saying otherwise.
It's amazing. You shot down your own argument. The people in charge of
the project say it's airborne. You say it's a balloon. Then you say
there is no way it could be a balloon. Wow.
BTW, I don't doubt that in the past RM may have leased time for this
daytime show on RVC. But that is past history. Again, there is no
daytime Martí broadcast on 530. Radio Martí`s own schedule shows they
fire up 530 at 1800 local time. That's dinner time.
I don't do the frequency planning for the U.S. government.
``Per one DXer who has been invited to not participate in the two US
MW clubs.``
Did those people at Martí tell you that? BTW, to be "invited" to
participate means you send in your loggings. If you don't send them to
every DX club out there, that does not mean they are untrue. But if
you'd care to produce your source on who dis-invited this person from
these two clubs, we can check that out too.
The only one who sees that as a mistake is you because it disproves
your argument. Nobody says shortwave originates from a balloon. Those
broadcasts come from transmitters in North Carolina and California
which also carry VOA. The mediumwave and FM broadcasts come from the
Florida Keys along with channels 18/50/64. The AM on 530 and the TV on
13 come from the Commando Solo flights.
``If you want, we can take the websites of a random selection of US
radio stations and I wager that each one will have a significant
number of pieces of incorrect or outdated data on them.``
I am not arguing that either, but let me close out this thread
(because it is getting repetitive and I'm sure boring to everyone
else) by making a more directed wager. I have written to Michael F.
Pallone, OCB/E Technical Director and Don Mansfield, both of whom were
involved in the preparation of Radio Marti's online schedule, and
asked them to confirm the veracity of their online schedule. I will
happily post whatever they reply with here. Anyone else interested in
writing can find their addresses at the bottom of the Radio Martí
schedule. If they say there is no airborne 530 frequency, you'll see
me post that and I'll concede. If they say there is, I hope you will
value the information, which is REALLY what is important here, more
than your argument and that you will concede. After all, the original
issue here is what's going on on 530? The more information brought to
the table, the better for all (Dampier, ibid.)
Please look at a map. There is no way for the 530 Radio Visión
Cristiana to coexist on 530 with a separate Martí transmitter --- and
this is my main point.
RVC, reported using a Nautel 50 kw transmitter in a half wave antenna
on the shore has 5.0 mv/m coverage all the way to La Habana...
guessing that the coastal areas of Cuba have the same ground
conductivity as coastal Puerto Rico, that gives a conductivity of 5000
to the shore, and about 5 to 10 on the coastal areas, so a decent
signal will penetrate 20 to 30 miles inland in eastern Cuba (Oriente,
etc.) and at least 10 miles in the La Habana area.
I had my daughter try to tune in RVC yesterday in Old San Juan at
Fortaleza, the Governor's Mansion. It is located no farther than 2
miles from water on the north, south and east. She said it came in
"like a station from Arecibo" which means listenable, but not local
strength. That is several hundred miles away in a noisy urban
environment. How can Martí operate on 530 with RVC also on? Nearly
impossible if the idea is to be listenable in Cuba.
You still have not provided any conclusive proof that any but a
minusculely powered AM can be operated from an aircraft in flight. In
addition, it is totally impossible to directionalize an AM from a
plane. This, of course, does not obviate the main point that there is
no advantage to altitude on AM, and, in fact, many disadvantages since
there is no ground system so a dipole of considerable vertical length
would have to be used, and it would have to be center fed.
There are a few cases of tethered balloons being used for emergency
antennas when a tower is knocked down. I have been part of one such
effort. However, such systems are "airborn" only in the sense that a
tethered balloon is used to hold a vertical wire up in the air to
replace a tower that has fallen, with the practical limits being a few
hundred feet before winds become so severe a problem that a lower
inverted L on a crane or a pole is a better emergency choice... all
the while using the miles of radials left from the fallen tower site
for a ground.
"These signals" have not been logged and reported to the NRC or IRCA,
the two major MW DX clubs in the US. The only references to logging
appear in Hauser's publications... and have a real Radio Swan / Radio
Americas quality to them. The fact that the head of the Radio Martí
Program does not know about the technical realities does not surprise
me. Most radio management knows nothing about the technical
operations... many US managers have never seen their own transmitter
sites and would not know an Optimod from an Omnia.
I am certainly not going to give friends' phone numbers out in public,
especially since the reason would be to have someone who thinks
anything but a flea power station on 530 could broadcast from a plane.
Suffice it to say that I have worked for Martí under a Congressional
mandate, and have been a general manager, consultant, programmer and
even engineer to a variety of Miami Spanish stations including WQBA,
WAQI, WAMR, WRTO, WHTT, WCMQ and WSUA over the years. I have a
moderate clue about Martí, the Causa Cubana (I was awarded a "Champion
of Cuban Freedom" award 24 years ago, in fact, for work during the
Mariel Boatlift.)
There are NO optimum radiation patterns for AM from a plane. It is
essentially undoable except at very low power. The planes can
broadcast FM and SW signals while airborne, an old concept. But they
carry AM transmitters and put them up on the ground. Otherwise, the
range would be like an Airport Traffic transmitter... a few miles at
best. Might work while overflying a battle zone, but not to provide
service to Cuba where the planes can NOT overfly Cuba and must operate
from miles and miles away... AM does not work well without a
terrestrially based antenna and ground.
I have built dozens of stations, AM and FM, from scratch, including
directional AMs and high latitude [sic] FM sites (one at 14,000 feet
AMSL). This includes antenna design, ATU design, diplexer design,
transmitter design and construction from scratch and studio design and
construction. There is no evidence I have ever seen that anything but
a few watts can be broadcast from a plane in flight on MW, and then it
would be far easier on the high part of the band.
I believe this is all a lack of understanding of "airborn" which
refers to the Cudjoe Key tethered balloon (at 20,000 feet, it is
certainly airborn) and lack of knowledge that such a facility can not
transmit an AM signal to Cuba, especially when the frequency has RVC
on it with huge power and a salt water ground.
Please explain how Martí, assuming a separate transmitter, could
possibly "talk" to Cuba with RVC on the air? This is why I suspect
(but have not confirmed, as I said) that they are leasing time on RVC,
just as the VOA did on a dozen US MW stations in the 60's to carry VOA
to Cuba.
Again, Cudjoe is airborn, but it is a balloon. It has existed for over
a decade. The balloon can not transmit directionalized SW nor can it
broadcast AM unless the tether itself radiates... but that does not
overcome the fact that RVC is running huge power right across the
water from them.
``Radio Martí's own schedule shows they fire up 530 at 1800 local
time. That's dinner time.``
Which makes no sense at all. Low frequency AM does not produce good
night skywave, yet is subject to all kinds of low-band tropical
static, common in that area (I owned AMs at 570, 590 and 660 in the
near-ecuatorial zones and am very familiar with the coverage reduction
of low band AMs at night.
``I don't do the frequency planning for the U.S. government.``
Then you have to take this all with a grain of salt. The real rumor is
that they are taking the 1020 site in T&C and going to use it,
directionalized to protect KDKA (Just as 1180 is directionalized for
the same reason) as this is an existing station. This has been talked
about in DX and engineering circles.
``Per one DXer who has been invited to not participate in the two US
MW clubs. --- Did those people at Martí tell you that?``
No, I know it from 47 years membership in NRC, and as being a founding
member of the IRCA. I was a director of the IRCA in the 60's. And the
MW clubs do vastly more than publish loggings. But, since you are not
a member and have neither seen DX News nor the Monitor, this is
understandable.
Martí does not use CA transmitters at Delano. You can go to Delano and
see that no curtain is aimed at the Caribbean; all the Martí SW comes
from Greenville.
[David Eduardo Gleason is dead wrong about this. OCB schedules are
well known showing both sites, and azimuths appropriate for Cuba from
Delano. Some frequencies are from both sites depending on time of day,
the switchover for propagational advantage. Maybe those antennas went
up since he was last there. Or maybe he visited some other Delano
since he thinks the IBB`s Greenville is in SC. Or maybe that is
something else he knows that no one else does: IBB has a secret site
at Greenville SC, closer to Cuba! And the NC stuff is just a decoy ---
gh]
Medium wave is at the old VOA Marathon site, on 1180 with 100 kw. And
I really doubt that there is an AM on a plane.
No one doubts the schedule. What is unfathomable is how AM that could
reach Cuba is being broadcast from a plane and how this is even
possible due to RVC being on the air independently with a monster
signal at the same time, per your theory. Management has been known to
not know what engineering really does, and I expect this is the case.
Since I am a licenced engineer (Ecuador) I really need something more
substantial than a non-technical person saying something that can't
work is working, especially the point of high-power RVC being on the
air a stone's throw away (since salt water is essentially as
conductive as metal at AM frequencies)
I really want to know how an alleged SEPARATE Marti transmitter can
operate co-channel wit RVC in RVC's primary coverage area. That
mystifies me. The airplane thing is just secondary, as I can find no
evidence of being able to cover a distant area on AM from a plane that
is not in direct overflight of an area (Gleason, ibid.)
Here is an interesting article on localized use of HF broadcasting
from a plane for small areas... it apparently can be done, but on a
very local scale. So, in fact, Radio Marti may be experimenting with
the technology on MW out of Boca Chica NAS in Key West. The technology
was used in Haiti in 1990, but only for a limited overfly zone in Port
au Prince... let's see what else comes up on this
U.S. Commando Solo II Takes Over Afghan Airwaves
By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2001 -- After years of Taliban propaganda, the
Afghan people are hearing another voice. At any time of the day or
night, an Air Force Special Operations Command EC-130E Commando Solo
II is in the area of operations and broadcasting news and information
to the Afghan people. An Air Force crew member adjusts the output of a
transmission during an EC-130E Commando Solo II training mission.
Photo by Master Sgt. David Hawkins, USAF. . . (via Gleason, ibid.)
I am glad you are finally admitting that mediumwave broadcasts can be
accomplished via airborne transmitters. You denied this up and down in
the thread regarding broadcasts on 530:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=461514&Board=dx
Radio Martí apparently could care less about any other station on 530
because they are on that frequency anyway. Even better, wait for this
one... our brilliant FCC has APPROVED the use of 530 by Martí!
Apparently the T&C are not signatories to some frequency planning
arrangement, so their interests are evidently not being well
represented. These transmissions emanate from a mediumwave transmitter
that flies adjacent to Cuban airspace. The transmissions are airborne,
not ground based, balloon based, or anything else. There are no Martí
broadcasts coming from RVC.
Is it stupid for Martí to be on 530 with RVC on the same frequency?
Probably.
Reception conditions are reported to be very good via monitoring done
by the American Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Havana ---
until Cuba fires up a 100,000 watt mediumwave transmitter on 530,
obliterating the broadcast. There is a cat and mouse game between
Martí and Havana, as usual.
The transmissions are not low power.
As I promised in the earlier thread, I wrote to the gentleman who
oversees all of Martí's broadcasts looking for confirmation to put
this issue to bed once and for all. I received it this morning:
"I can confirm that Radio Marti broadcasts on 530 kHz do in fact also
originate from an aircraft platform, currently on a once-weekly basis.
Special temporary approval for use of 530 kHz for this purpose was
granted by the FCC. I do not lease any time from Radio Vision
Christiania [sic] for any purpose.
Michael F. Pallone
Director, Engineering & Technical Operations
Office of Cuba Broadcasting
Miami, Florida 33166-6728
Com: 305-437-7051 Fax: 305-437-7122 Secure: 305-437-7052"
(Phillip Dampier, June 20, ibid.)
In part out of a debate over the possibility of mediumwave broadcasts
via airborne facilities and arguments over the source of Martí
broadcasts on 530 on the radio-info DX forum
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=461514&Board=dx
I wrote to the head engineer at Martí to gather some information. His
reply gives us a bit of insight, and I followed up asking for further
details about power of the broadcasts, potential interference from
RVC on 530, and more info about the Cuban response. I'll forward any
reply. But for now, here is the message I received: [as above]
Apparently once of the thread participants likes to refer to "Hauser"
as a source of dubious information. :-) (Phillip Dampier, June 20, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx to Phillip for tipping me to this thread (gh)
Transoceanic aircraft have been using HF for years; you could get a
transmitter tuned for 530 kHz AM. It would be low range (like the
aircraft flyovers stated above. It's been done
http://www.dean-boys.com/ec-121s/information_on_the_ec-121s.htm
It could be done also if you encircle the Cuban island heading to
Gitmo... BUT someone else would have heard it by now NOT just the
target audience (including a lot of the DXers mentioned by David as
the signal described in the article is basically a long wire or omni-
directional)
Possibly the Radio Martí people are sending a load of disinformation
about it being a Solo, as to not offend others by revealing the signal
actually comes from T&C (something else the US Government is good at,
Disinformation)... RFLA (RadiofanLA, ibid.)
Terry, Have you seen this entire thread? You are somewhat maligned, as
am I. Let me ask you one question: did you get a good bearing on the
Martí 530 transmission (while Cuba was off, preferably), ruling out
Turks & Caicos? And if so, what was it? 73, (Glenn to Terry Krueger,
via DXLD)
Entertaining! And quite the contrary: those in denial are maligning
themselves of any remaining credibility they might still have.
First off, maybe Mr. Eduardo should look at the Air Force's own
description of what a Commando Solo EC-130J is capable of transmitting
(and while he's at it, carefully read the second sentence):
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=182
Maybe he should also look at some of the verifications that the 193rd
has issued (including my own for the 1035 kHz "Radio Democratie"
transmissions over Haiti in 1994, as signed by Lt. Col. Jim Zambo, PA-
ANG, who was personally on most of those missions and whom I had the
opportunity to meet twice during previous MacDill Airfests).
Yes, it DF's roughly just east of Key West for me. Others, such as
Paul Zecchino (Manasota Key, FL), get similar bearings. Let's see,
thus far both Martí and the 530 Cuba transmitter (along with RVC in
the mix) have been logged by not only myself, but also Gerry Bishop
(Niceville, FL), David Potter (Gainesville, FL as well as from near
Key West, FL), David Crawford (Titusville, FL), Clay Gibbs (Warner
Robins, GA) and I believe one in NC, along with several others on the
DXFlorida board.
Yes, T&C is also on 530 and yes, it often QRM's the Saturday Martí
signal (especially after darkness, when all three -- Martí, Rebelde
[usually Rebelde feed] and Radio Visión Cristiana audibly battle it
out). How amusing that some deny that 530 Martí transmissions exist
based on the frequency choice: HELLO? Martí from Marathon, FL is on
1180 kHz, and so is one of the most if not the most powerful
transmitter from Cuba, Radio Rebelde.
A few more sites for Mr. Eduardo and Company to deny:
http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/special-report/rwf-193rd.shtml
http://www.spectrumwd.com/c130/articles/193rdsog.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/ec-130j.htm
http://www.psywarrior.com/ec130.html
(Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
I do agree that MW transmission from a plane is likely to be
inefficient, and is probably done for reasons other than
effectiveness. Hey, maybe they have mounted on the plane a crossed
field antenna, remember those? Which were supposed to shrink MW
antennas to much more manageable size (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
[Following portion is from NRC-AM list, responses to Gleason`s same
initial question, going on more or less concurrently]
Details are vague but in a nutshell the Radio Martí/VOA 530 operation
is via a EC-130 from the PA Air National Guard based at Boca Chica NAS
near Key West. They tether an antenna cable out the back about 450+
feet and basically fly an east-west route between the Keys and Cuba.
The US government made good use of this operating method in the 90's
over Haiti. Yes, this creates a problem for the RVC operation in South
Caicos but officially they are afforded no protection as the IFRB does
not recognize them. Everybody is operating out in left field, as the
ITU Rio 81 guidelines establish a maximum power of 1 kW on the
frequency. Glenn Hauser has been following the action pretty closely
in the DX Listening Digest (Jerry Kiefer, Port Orange, FL, NRC-AM via
DXLD)
Additionally, Terry Krueger in FL has reported a R. Rebelde outlet on
530 that experienced a "huge power increase on the 17th of May."
(Marc DeLorenzo, South Dennis, Cape Cod, Mass., ibid.)
What kind of coverage does airborne MW get? The antenna you describe
would seem to defy all AM transmission properties --- such as a ground
system, etc. I'd assume the power is relatively low and that the
coverage is not very good? I thought the Haitian transmissions were
from planes flying over the land mass of Haiti, specifically over Port
au Prince. The Cuban Martí operation seems to be from quite a few
miles offshore, and I'm guessing the coverage is very limited (David
Gleason, ibid.)
The 193rd Special Ops Wing of the PA Air National Guard based in
Harrisburg PA is the unit that operates the Commando Solo airborne
broadcast stations. This group has been involved in PSYOPS
broadcasting from the air since 1968 starting with Lockheed C-121
Constellations and progressing into the current C-130 airframe. These
aircraft are equipped with AM, SW, FM, and TV transmitters. MW & SW
operations reportedly emanate from frequency agile Rockwell-Collins 10
kw transmitters. The MW antenna is deployed from the belly on a reel
and has a 500 pound weight attached to help keep it near vertical
polarization. The shortwave antenna is deployed from a reel in the
tail with horizontal polarization. The lowest MW frequency I recall
them operating on in the past is 693 kHz which was used in Iraq. But I
have no doubt that they can transmit on 530 kHz. If you do a Google
search for Commando Solo you will find a wealth of information on this
subject (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, ibid.)
Reports are that the 530 Radio Martí signals are heard well up the
Gulf coast of Florida, as far as the western panhandle. Since several
sizable Cuban cities are along the northern coastal regions, the
broadcasts are afforded a water path and would be expected to cover
those as well. This would of course include Havana. Jamming is done by
530 R. Rebelde, which has recently increased its power at times,
especially when R. Martí is up and flying -- also reported all along
the FL Gulf coast by DXers on another list. Commando Solo and Radio
Martí are both listed in the 2005 WRTH as is the Cuban 530 R. Rebelde
outlet. Note that R. Martí is a separate US Government operation and
is not part of VOA. As mentioned by others here and elsewhere the
airborne operation is carried out by the PA Air National Guard, 193rd
Special Operations Wing (PsyOps). (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (South
East) Florida, ibid.)
** EGYPT. Updated summer A-05 schedule of Radio Cairo:
0700-1100 15115 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg Arabic GS WeAf
1015-1215 17775 ABZ 500 kW / 090 deg Arabic ME/AFG
1115-1215 15810 ABS 250 kW / 106 deg Thai SoEaAs
1200-2400 12050 ABS 500 kW / 315 deg Arabic GS WeEu
1215-1315 15810 ABS 250 kW / 106 deg Malay SoEaAs
1215-1330 17835 ABZ 500 kW / 090 deg English SoAs
1230-1530 15490 ABZ 100 kW / 070 deg Farsi TJK
1300-1600 15365 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Arabic WeAf
1320-1450 15810 ABS 250 kW / 106 deg Indonesian SoEaAs
1330-1430 17835 ABZ 500 kW / 090 deg Bengali SoAs
1400-1530 11655 ABS 250 kW / 061 deg Azeri AZE
1430-1600 15670 ABS 250 kW / 061 deg Pashto AFG
1500-1600 13665 ABZ 500 kW / 090 deg Hindi SoAs
1530-1630 9495 ABZ 100 kW / 070 deg Uzbek UZB
1530-1630 15155 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Afar EaCeAf
1530-1730 17810 ABZ 100 kW / 170 deg Swahili CeEaAf
1600-1800 13665 ABZ 500 kW / 090 deg Urdu SoAs
1600-1645 15620 ABS 250 kW / 196 deg Zulu CeSoAf
1600-1800 6230 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg Turkish TUR
1600-1800 9990 ABS 250 kW / 325 deg Albanian ALB
1630-1730 15155 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Somali EaCeAf
1630-1830 11880 ABS 150 kW / 180 deg English CeSoAf
1645-1730 15620 ABS 250 kW / 196 deg Shona CeSoAf
1730-1815 15620 ABS 250 kW / 196 deg Ndebele CeSoAf
1730-1900 15155 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Amharic EaCeAf
1800-1900 7120 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg Russian WeRUS
1800-1900 9988 ABS 250 kW / 325 deg Italian WeEu
1800-2100 11830 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Hausa WeAf
1830-1915 11880 ABS 150 kW / 180 deg Lingala CeSoAf
1830-1930 15375 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg Wolof WeAf
1900-2000 9990 ABS 250 kW / 325 deg German WeEu
1900-0030 11665 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg VOA* Arabic CeEaAf
1915-2030 15425 ABZ 250 kW / 240 deg Fulani WeAf
1930-2030 15375 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg Bambara WeAf
2000-2200 7210 ABZ 500 kW / 090 deg Arabic AUS
2000-2115 9990 ABS 250 kW / 325 deg French WeEu
2030-2200 15375 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg English WeAf
2030-2230 15335 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg French WeAf
2100-2200 11830 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Yoruba WeAf
2115-2245 9990 ABS 250 kW / 325 deg English WeEu
2215-2330 11790 ABZ 500 kW / 241 deg Portuguese SoAm
2300-0030 11885 ABZ 500 kW / 330 deg English NoAmEa
2330-0045 9735 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Arabic SoAm
2330-0045 11755 ABZ 500 kW / 270 deg Arabic SoAm
0000-0400 12050 ABS 250 kW / 325 deg Arabic GS NoAm
0030-0430 11885 ABZ 500 kW / 330 deg Arabic NoAmEa
0045-0200 7260 ABZ 500 kW / 330 deg Spanish NoAm
0045-0200 9415 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Spanish SoAm
0045-0200 11755 ABZ 500 kW / 270 deg Spanish CeAm
0200-0330 7260 ABZ 500 kW / 330 deg English NoAm
*VOA=Voice of Arabs ABS=Abis ABZ=Abu Zaabal
(Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD)
** GERMANY. Some DTK T-Systems changes:
Brother Stair/The Overcomer Ministries (TOM):
1400-1600 6110 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Daily to WeEu English, ex non-dir
Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (BVBN):
0700-0845 5945 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Sun to WeEu English, ex 0630-0845
Radio Solmal tests on June 17:
1430-1500 on 17550 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Fri to EaAf Somali
1600-1630 on 17550 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Fri to EaAf Somali
(Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD)
** GERMANY [non]. /RUSSIA: Freq change for Deutsche Welle in Chinese
from June 20: 1300-1350 NF 6225 K/A 250 kW / 173 deg, ex 5945 \\
15355 TRM, 15425 SNG, 17660 TRM (Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via
DXLD)
** GERMANY [non]. Re 5-100: Glenn, You wrote: ``I assume all these are
DW transmissions? 15425 Kranji would be Singapore; was this at 1300 in
Mandarin as currently scheduled?``
Yes, that's correct; when I sent in my report I listed the site as
Singapore, but the card came back with Kranji, Korea listed for the
1300 broadcast. What was strange, the card was Signed by B. Kalumann,
not Horst Scholz. All the rest except for this one. Another was the
card I reported for 15410 as Montsinéry; it came back as the site as
Bonaire. So unless DW's doesn't know their sites (which I highly doubt
it), there is some miscommunication somewhere along the line. This
also brings back an episode when I tried to get a correct site some
years ago, and since then I've had difficulty getting reports verified
from there for some of their transmitter sites (Saudi Arabia was the
station). For now I will accept the site that is listed on the card.
(Edward Kusalik, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. UK/USA: SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO TO BROADCAST
BBC'S RADIO 1 | Text of press release from BBC Worldwide on 21 June
Sirius Satellite Radio announced today an agreement to broadcast the
British Broadcasting Corporation's popular modern music channel Radio
1. The agreement, with BBC Radio International, part of the UK
broadcaster's commercial arm BBC Worldwide, will bring many Americans
their first opportunity to listen to the influential and highly
acclaimed radio channel.
"Radio 1 on Sirius will be a unique entertainment offering unmatched
in the US," said Scott Greenstein, Sirius President of Entertainment
and Sports. "It is renowned for its support of up-and-coming British
artists, and reflects the enormously vibrant British music scene in
its daily programming and special events. Sirius subscribers will soon
be able to hear Radio 1's cutting edge music in their cars, homes or
other locations."
BBC Radio 1 plays a mix of current pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop music,
and extensively covers music events taking place worldwide. BBC Radio
1 features many exclusive interviews, as well as live broadcasts of
performances and unique studio sets from some of the hottest artists
on the international music scene. The channel has a weekly audience of
more than 12 million in the UK (RAJAR - Radio Joint Audience Research
Ltd - analysis of UK radio, 21 October 2004), and is consistently
recognized for the quality of its on-air hosts and the information and
entertainment it presents.
Andy Parfitt, BBC's Controller of Radio 1, said: "This is such an
exciting development. Radio 1 already has a strong international
reputation amongst music fans around the world, including the US. Now
the station can be heard easily across America. With our commitment to
great new UK music we hope that we can help British acts make inroads
into the massive US music market."
David Moody, Director of Strategy and Business Development at BBC
Worldwide, said: "We're delighted to be working with Sirius on adding
one of the UK's most established radio brands to its high quality
radio line-up. The arrangement benefits from Radio 1's strong
programming and brand combined with Sirius's cutting edge delivery
technology and established US audience. We look forward to exploring
further opportunities together in the future."
BBC Radio 1 will be broadcast with a time-shift on Sirius, so
Americans can enjoy the channel's lineup as it was intended - with
Chris Moyles' Breakfast Show in the morning, Scott Mill's show in the
afternoon, and kicking off the weekend with Pete Tong's Friday night
Essential Selection.
BBC's Radio 1 will be made available on Sirius later this summer, and
joins an exciting lineup of exclusive programming on Sirius.
For more information, visit http://www.sirius.com
To find out more about BBC Radio 1's lineup, visit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 Source: BBC Worldwide press release,
London, in English 21 Jun 05 (via BBCM via DXLD)
Geez, Radio 2, 3 or 4 would have been a much better choice (gh, DXLD)
** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. USA/IRAN: USA USING THIRD SATELLITE
TO OVERCOME IRANIAN "JAMMING" | Text of US Broadcasting Board of
Governors (BBG) press release on 17 June
Washington, DC, 17 June 2005: The Broadcasting Board of Governors
today announced it is using a third satellite to help overcome jamming
of Persian-language news broadcasts during Iran's election period.
The broadcasts affected include Voice of America's (VOA) direct-to-
home Persian-language satellite television news programmes, Radio
Farda and VOA English. The three are carried on the Eutelsat Hotbird
satellite and Telstar 12. Today, the BBG Office of Engineering added a
third satellite transmission. This additional signal makes it more
difficult for Iranian authorities to block the broadcasts in many
locations.
BBG Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson condemned Iranian attempts to jam
satellite television and radio services that carry US international
broadcasting for Persian audiences: "That the government of Iran would
jam Persian television and other US international broadcasts
illustrates how threatened the authorities are by truth." Tomlinson
said the BBG would continue to counter efforts to block open and free
information by providing programmes on multiple satellites and
transponders.
VOA's Persian service features "News and Views", a daily one-hour
television news and information programme repeated four times with
news updates. This week's 90-minute "Looking Ahead" programme, also
produced by VOA Persian, featured Principal Deputy Assistant US
Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Elizabeth Cheney.
Radio Farda, a joint venture between VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty, is a youth-oriented 24/7 Persian-language radio service that
broadcasts political, social and economic news, information, public
affairs and music to Iran. Iran also has stepped up jamming on Radio
Farda AM and shortwave frequencies.
Iran's presidential elections are being held today and a runoff is
possible. In the past, Iranian jamming of satellite television has
occurred around the time of elections and other key political events.
The BBG constantly works to overcome jamming.
Iranian authorities also direct Iranian internet service providers to
filter out the ability to connect to the VOA News and Radio Farda
websites http://www.VOANews.com and http://www.radiofarda.com They
also prevent e-mails from VOA from being received by their citizens.
The BBG has been working to counter these efforts through an internet
anti-censorship program.
The BBG is an independent federal agency which supervises all US
government-supported non-military international broadcasting,
including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL); the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Al-Hurra TV and Radio
Sawa); Radio Free Asia (RFA); and Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio
and TV Martí). Through its broadcast services, the BBG provides the
United States and its leaders direct and immediate access to a
worldwide audience of over 140 million people.
Nine members comprise the BBG, a bipartisan presidentially appointed
body. Current governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin
Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman,
Norman J. Pattiz and Steven Simmons. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice serves as an ex officio member. For more information, contact:
Howard Mortman, BBG, 202-203-4545. Source: Broadcasting Board of
Governors press release, Washington, in English 17 Jun 05 (via BBCM
via DXLD)
** IRAN [non]. Deleted transmission for Voice of Iran in Farsi
effective from June 13:
1530-1730 on 11575 SOF 100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs/ME
(Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD) SOF = Sofia, Bulgaria
** IRAN [non]. Deleted transmission for Seda-ye Jambushi Iran e Farda
in Farsi from June 13: 1600-1645 7490 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs/ME
(Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD) KCH = Kishinov, Moldova
** IRELAND. LOBBY GROUP SAYS RTÉ IN A POSITION TO ADOPT DRM
Radiowaves reports that lobby group Irish Overseas Broadcasting are
claiming that Irish public broadcaster RTÉ is now in a position to
introduce DRM digital broadcasting that will serve not only home
interests, but also those interested in Irish affairs abroad. Enda
O'Kane, who is a former RTÉ Technical Representative, claims that
financial constraints are preventing RTÉ from exploring the full
benefits that DRM digital radio can provide.
"The excitement of the possibility of listening to our national
culture across Europe is really a dream," says Enda. "Our FM signals
are of adequate level across the island, unlike the situation in the
UK, so I don't see the need for RTÉ to spend €15M on DAB when we have
no [portable] radio service into Europe."
Read the full story http://www.radiowaves.fm/news/index.shtml
# posted by Andy @ 12:21 UT June 20 (Media Network blog via DXLD)
It seemed they were talking about MW, mentioning the Athlone site, but
computed PROCAP coverage maps, courtesy of IBB, fine print, are for
9700 and 4000 kHz! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LATVIA. EMR relay on 9290 khz
Date - 25th JUNE 2005 --- Time - 2000 to 2100 UT Good Listening 73s
(Tom Taylor, European Music Radio, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBERIA. Just received this QSL via e-mail from Radio Veritas,
Monrovia (5470) for my June 14 report:
"Yes, Jari, We do confirm that the station you heard was indeed Radio
Veritas, from Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. This station is owned
and operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia. Thanks a million
for the reception report. The transmitter power is 10 kwatt but at
present we are only powering 6 kwatt. Do look forward to more of such
reports on the morning frequency of 6090 khz.
Very truly yours, Ledgerhood Rennie, Station Manager"
Their e-mail address is: radioveritas@hotmail.com
73, (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, June 20, dxldyg via DXLD)
Whatever he means by ``morning``, it will be colliding with DGS
Anguilla (gh, DXLD)
5469.96, R. Veritas, pretty decent from 2225 Jun 18, circa 2230
mentioned "Saturday Night Dance Party," also 5470 kHz. "in the 60
meter band." Signal seemed to decline a bit, and the audio level was
quite low from 2256 when there was a prayer, 2300 quick music bridge
and closing announcement, with a reading of the Lord's Prayer, then
invitation to listeners to return for their morning broadcast (no s/on
time heard) on 6090 kHz. (On Jun 17 in the A-DX list, Christoph Ratzer
also reports hearing reference to 6090 as the morning frequency.) Then
some extremely low-audio vocal music. Programming seemed to stop at
2305, carrier off a few minsutes later (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA
Flashsheet via DXLD)
5470, 2205 18/6, R. Veritas - Monrovia, English ID e NX, buono (TNX a
LBFG ) (Roberto Pavanello, Italy, playdx yg via DXLD)
** MEXICO. BROADCASTS OF RADIO INSURGENTE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY
A communiqué dated 19 June 2005 from the Mexican-based Clandestine
Revolutionary Indigenous Committee – General Command of the Zapatista
Army of National Liberation, states that the organisation has declared
a General Red Alert. Now, and for an indefinite time period, members
of the Good Government Juntas and the autonomous authorities will be
carrying out their work in a clandestine and nomadic manner. All
broadcasts by Radio Insurgente, "The Voice of Those Without Voice", on
FM and on shortwave have been suspended for an indefinite period of
time. Read the full communiqué
http://www.libcom.org/newswire/stories.php?story=05/06/21/8777087
Radio Insurgente http://www.radioinsurgente.org
# posted by Andy @ 11:30 UT June 21 (Media Network blog via DXLD)
What about programs on internet? As relayed via a station in Spain, as
recently reported. SW operations have never been confirmed, anyway.
Lotsa rhetoric, but what is really going on? (gh, DXLD)
** MEXICO [and non]. LIBRARY HOSTS PRESENTATION ON THE HISTORY OF
BORDER RADIO STATIONS June 21, 2005
Leona Lincoln, director of the Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio,
will give a presentation at the Victoria Public Library on Saturday on
the history of border radio stations XER, XERA and XERF, according to
city spokeswoman Marie Zolnosky.
http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/local/local/story/2866020p-3318954c.html
For additional information, contact the Victoria Public Library at
361-572-2702 (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) Victoria TX, that is;
ergo means Sat June 25 (gh)
** MEXICO [and non]. JAIME BONILLA - CHAPTERS II & III UNFOLD
On May 16, 2005, Lazer Broadcasting and others launched a major
offensive against Quetzal's (Jaime Bonilla's) Section 325(c) cross-
border program transmission authorities associated with XHBCE-FM,
105.7 MHz, in Baja California North. That station, along with other
Bonilla stations, have been broadcasting program material back to U.S.
audiences.
Lazer concluded that everywhere it looked, Bonilla had major technical
violations: (a) XHBCE's Class B station was never built at its
authorized site (if it was built at all), (b) XHBCE's Class C1 station
on Cerro Bola was on the air without the required 325(c) cross-border
program transmission authority, (c) the XESS(AM) and XESDD(AM)
required three-tower directional array was in fact one tower instead,
(d) XESS was operating at the wrong site (e) the XEKTT(AM) site had
two towers of grossly unequal height in violation of international
agreement and (f) the Bonilla cross-border microwave link that should
have been licensed by the FCC had been on the air without a permit.
The next two chapters in this legal saga have just unfolded. First,
Quetzal has responded to Lazer's allegations with a detailed pleading
of its own, pictures included. Second, Lazer has filed an opposition
to the 325(c) applications filed by John Lynch's Broadcast Company of
the Americas (BCA), and Lazer has broadened the scope of the BCA and
Quetzal proceedings by modeling the directional pattern of the XHBCE-
FM Cerro Bola antenna. Lazer argues that the "NEC" modeled pattern
does not even vaguely resemble the internationally notified pattern,
and does not protect the U.S.
Copies of the two latest pleadings (each about 2.4 MB in size) are
available at the URLs below. The Quetzal photos (like the early Lazer
photos) are of poor quality due to the pdf encoding process selected
by others. That should change soon. High quality Lazer photos are
already posted on the web (CGC #687), and we have requested color
copies of Quetzal's pictures.
There is no need to rush to judgement. Other pleadings will
undoubtedly follow soon. The Bonilla case remains as one of the
biggest engineering stories of our time.
http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Quetzal_Opposition.pdf
http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Lazer_Petition_to_Deny.pdf
(CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD)
** NIGERIA. 4770 heard again, first time in 3 months or so, June 20 at
2100 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PERU. Re 5-100: Well, of course it`s a "typing error", I logged
Sicuani on 4826 not 4926 kHz; on my web ID site the frequency is the
correct one. I listen between 0930-1130 UT in the morning and also
some hours at night time --- I often hear the station but as you know
I´m always waiting for the moment to make a good recording to present
on my web ID-site. You have to be crazy to listen 100 hours just to be
able to make a 45 seconds recording. 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAMOA AMERICAN. AMERICAN SAMOA URGED TO BOOST BROADCAST FUNDING |
Text of report by Radio New Zealand International audio website on 20
June
The president of Pago Pago-based South Seas Broadcasting has called on
the American Samoa government to look locally in its efforts to
improve broadcast communications to remote islands. Larry Fuss says he
finds it perplexing that the government is working with the Samoa
Broadcasting Corporation in Apia to find ways to provide broadcast
coverage for the Manu'a Islands group and Swains Island, especially
during times of natural disasters.
Mr Fuss says American Samoa has the resources to provide broadcast
coverage for all of the territory but needs government support. He
says it would only cost the government about 20,000 US dollars to
provide the service. "A territory of the United States shouldn't be
depending on a foreign broadcast station for the dissemination of
emergency messages. But if the government is really interested in
extending broadcast service there, we could put what's called a
translator or a repeater over there for very minimal cost if the
government would just spend some of the money they waste on other crap
for a repeater." Source: Radio New Zealand International audio
website, Wellington, in English 20 Jun 05 (via BBCM via DXLD)
** SCOTLAND [non]. LATVIA/ITALY (non): Radio Six International in
English via Ulbroka and Milano:
0600-0700 Sat June 18 on 9290 ULB 100 kW / 250 deg to WeEu \\
0600-0700 Sat June 18 on 15725 MIL 020 kW / non-dir to WeEu with 17
second delay (Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD)
** SUDAN. Radio ``Peace`` is reported with a program in English on
4750 kHz from 0230 hours announcing that its emissions are from 0230
to 0320 and from 1630 to 1720 hours (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, R.
Bulgaria DX program June 17 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD)
** SWEDEN [and non]. R. Sweden, 15735 direct, in English at 1343 check
June 20 was running a full 18 seconds behind the Sackville relay on
15240! I wonder if Sack. just records the 1230 feed to play back an
hour later, so it would not be synchronized with 15735; must check
other days to see if it`s always 18 seconds ahead or just varies
randomly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAIWAN. Trans World Broadcasting Ministry (Huanchiu Kwanpo) sent me
a Prepared Form QSL card in Chinese after 30 days for my reception
report in Chinese to their Taiwan Office on their shortwave broadcast
(11940 kHz). QSL signer was Naishang Kuo, chief manager. Also a letter
by Daosheng Yao, recording engineer, was enclosed. Mr. Yao said their
broadcast is intended to Chinese mainland and he was astonished to
receive reception report from Japan. Their mailing address in Taiwan
is: #467-1, 7FL Chih Sien 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 800 Taiwan, R.O.C.
Telephone: +886 7 235 9223; FAX: +886 7 235 9220 URL:
http://www.twbm.com E-mail: youth @ twbm.com Their schedule: ``David``
program for Chinese mainland 1300-1400 over CBS-Taipei 11940 kHz 100
kW; ``Angel`` program for Taiwan inland 1610-1700 over CBS-Kaohsiung
864 kHz 10 kW (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, June 20, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** UGANDA. 5026 heard June 20 at 2045; may have been inactive (Chris
Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K. RE 5-098, ``Amnesty``: It's more like a weird BBC'ism. We use
amnesty in the sense of a pardon granted for an offence, where this
involves handing things in it would mean an amnesty the local police
force grants for illegally held weapons or the library grants for
overdue books. I believe this would be the same as North American
usage of the word. Your use of "another weird Briticism" begs the
question of which other British language usage appears particularly
strange to a North American (Mike Barraclough, Britain, June 21, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Read on
Your story on amnesty refers to the licence fee that all Britons were
(supposed) to pay for each radio in their residence. It was abolished,
for radio -- still on TV, in 1971.
The Amnesty means that the licensing powers won't fine them if they
have (had) an unlicenced radio:
"Billed as a radio amnesty for Africa, aping the now familiar gun and
knives amnesties whereby people can hand in weapons to police stations
without fear of prosecution, the campaign will be fronted by BBC TV
presenter Nick Knowles from 'DIY SOS' and also known for his work with
Comic Relief and Sport Relief. Radio Five Live will lead the promotion
of the amnesty." URL:
http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletins/br/article/480310/bbc-leads-digital-radio-drive-aid-africa/
(Dan Say, DXLD)
OK, that makes sense. The original item made no reference to licence-
fee scofflaws, assuming everyone knew what this `amnesty` was about.
Nor will you find it in the following (gh, DXLD)
** U K [and non]. Translating for the U.S. --- Here are translations
of some common "English" terms between U.S.A. and Great Britain. Who
knows, you may get to hear some of these on shortwave :-)
http://www.accomodata.co.uk/amlish.htm
(Pete Costello, June 20, dxldyg via DXLD)
** U S A. Frequency change for WEWN in Spanish to CeAm:
1100-2200 NF 11645 EWN 500 kW / 220 deg, ex 11530 to avoid Denge
Mezopotamya (Observer, Bulgaria, June 21, via DXLD)
** U S A [non]. 11790 - R. Apkidunia (?) - at 1445-1455 June 18, heard
man & woman in news and mentioning R. Apkidunia Washington several
times. They're talking about Pakistan & technology (presume) in
unknown language. SINPO 43443 (Lim Kwet Hian, Jakarta, Indonesia, HCDX
via DXLD)
That`s the recently adopted name for VOA`s Urdu service, in this case
via Kavala, Greece. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.)
** U S A. STATIC RISES ON CAPITOL HILL OVER BROADCAST BOARD MEMBER
Norman J. Pattiz has not been renominated by Bush. A key Democrat
comes to his defense. --- By Johanna Neuman, Times Staff Writer, June
17, 2005, Los Angeles Times THE NATION
WASHINGTON — Norman J. Pattiz, a Los Angeles radio executive who has
helped shape the U.S. effort to reach out to the Arab world, is at the
center of a struggle between the White House and congressional
Democrats.
Pattiz is a Democratic member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors
whose reappointment is in limbo. The board has nine members; by law,
four are Democrats, four are Republicans and one is the Secretary of
State.
In 2000, President Clinton appointed Pattiz to the board. President
Bush renominated him in 2002, but has not sent his name to the Senate
for a third two-year term.
Pattiz has been serving as a holdover since August. The White House,
which said it was reviewing the issue, would not disclose why Bush had
not acted. Pattiz said he would serve until he got "a letter from the
White House thanking me for my services."
Pattiz is a major contributor to Democratic candidates. He supported
Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) in last year's presidential race, and
recently held a fundraiser at his Beverly Hills home for Senate
Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
(D-N.Y.).
The question of his tenure became an issue this week in the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee.
Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) blocked the nomination of Dina
Powell, head of presidential personnel, to be deputy undersecretary of
State for public diplomacy, until the administration renominated
Pattiz.
Powell, an Egyptian American whose family immigrated to Texas when she
was 4, was nominated to serve under presidential counselor Karen P.
Hughes in a public diplomacy effort to reach out to the Arab world.
Reflecting the breadth of support for Powell, Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, a
liberal Maryland Democrat, and Sen. John E. Sununu, a conservative New
Hampshire Republican, have praised her.
The committee is expected to approve Powell next week, because a
senator can block an appointment for no more than a week during the
committee process. But Biden, angered that Pattiz had not been
reappointed, may also put a hold on Powell's nomination on the Senate
floor.
"Norm Pattiz has been the driving force behind our most successful
public diplomacy undertakings since 9/11," Biden said in a statement.
Pattiz, who serves on the University of California Board of Regents,
founded Westwood One, the largest radio network in the United States.
After the Sept. 11 attacks left many stunned by Muslim hatred of the
United States, Pattiz persuaded the Broadcasting Board of Governors --
- which oversees international broadcasting, including Voice of
America and Radio Martí --- to set up a station in the Middle East.
Called Radio Sawa ("together" in Arabic), the Arab-language station
went on the air in March 2003. Aimed at young listeners, Sawa features
pop music and news. It is broadcast in Jordan and throughout the
Persian Gulf.
After the U.S.-led war in Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, the
broadcasting board established a television station in Iraq called Al
Hurra, which in Arabic means "the free one."
"Radio Sawa and Al Hurra TV are attracting significant audiences in
the Middle East," Biden said.
In an interview Thursday, Pattiz said he thought the board had "done
some amazing things in terms of creating radio and TV operations in
the Middle East that, according to independent research, are reaching
tens of millions of Arabs on a weekly basis with news that is seen as
reliable and credible."
Pattiz said he never sought reimbursement for his expenses. He said he
had spent "in seven figures" to make trips to the Middle East to pave
the way for Radio Sawa.
"I've been fortunate in my business, and I've been fortunate to be
appointed by two presidents to do something that takes advantage of
what I've done professionally for 30 years," he said. "I look at this
as a way of giving back."
If Bush were to replace Pattiz, he would have to do so with a
Democrat.
The board's chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, was appointed by the Bush
White House to head the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He has
shaken up the establishment there with charges that PBS programming
has a liberal bias.
On the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Tomlinson and Pattiz have
clashed over Tomlinson's efforts to select staff for projects that
Pattiz oversees.
White House spokeswoman Erin Healy said the president had made "no
decision yet." She said the White House had urged the Senate to "move
forward as quickly as possible" on Powell's nomination (via DXLD)
SPARKING DEBATE, RADIO CZAR RETOOLS GOVERNMENT MEDIA --- MR. PATTIZ'S
UNCERTAIN FUTURE http://tinyurl.com/cs2mk [long and rather in-depth]
(The Wall Street Journal via Andy Sennitt, Mike Terry, dxldyg via
DXLD)
** U S A. Talk of Iowa on WSUI, webcast via http://wsui.uiowa.edu
Monday at 1505 UT is discussing Tomlinson and the funding issues
facing public broadcasting; repeats at 0305 UT Tuesday. Archive should
be available later at http://wsui.uiowa.edu/talk_of_iowa.htm
73, (Glenn Hauser, June 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. PUBLIC BROADCASTERS AIR ADS AGAINST FEDERAL CUTBACK
By Paul Farhi, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tue, June 21, 2005; C01
The most popular program among public broadcasters these days may be
the Great Funding Commercials.
Faced with impending federal budget cuts, public TV and radio
stations around the country have taken to their airwaves to highlight
the situation. In ads airing during prime-time hours, the stations are
urging viewers to call members of Congress to tell them how they
feel about the impending loss of more than $100 million in federal
funds for the Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio and
hundreds of public radio and TV stations.
WETA, Channel 26, began running 30-second spots on Friday, sprinkling
them throughout such programs as "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer,"
"Washington Week in Review" and "The Charlie Rose Show." The ads
direct viewers to the station's Web site, where WETA has assembled a
series of "talking points" to use when calling Congress. ("Express to
your legislator the impact that public broadcasting has had on your
life -- be specific, if possible.")
Similar spots are running on at least 90 of the 175 licensed public TV
stations across the country, according to the Association of Public
Television Stations, a Washington-based lobbying organization that is
coordinating the effort. "Almost all" of the 780 public radio stations
affiliated with NPR are posting appeals on their Web sites or airing
ads, according to NPR. . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/20/AR2005062001459_pf.html
(via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Don`t call them ads. e.g.:
** U S A. A LETTER FROM WGBH PRESIDENT HENRY BECTON
Take action! Proposed funding cuts now before the US House of
Representatives pose a serious threat to public broadcasting: to PBS,
to NPR, to WGBH including our local based news service, the Cape and
Islands NPR Stations.
As a result, WGBH and other stations are urgently asking the millions
of Americans who value public TV and radio to contact your legislators
in Congress and tell them how you feel. If you oppose a 45% cut in
funding for public broadcasting, let your legislators know that.
The House may vote on these cuts as soon as June 22, 2005, so it's
critical that your members of Congress hear from you today.
We know you may have questions, so please check our FAQs. We have also
posted some tips for calling your legislators, including contact
information and what you might say in support of public broadcasting.
For many years, we in public broadcasting have relied on our friends
and fans for financial support. Now we are asking you to support us as
citizens. No less than the future of public television and radio is at
stake.
Thank you for taking action, Henry Becton Jr., President of WGBH
PS Help us spread the word by sharing my letter with your friends and
family so that they can take action, too.
Learn more about the proposed cuts.
Find your congressional representative.
What you can say when you call. (for these links see:
http://www.wgbh.org/cainan/article?item_id=2322202&parent_id=0
via gh, DXLD)
** U S A. It feels anticlimactic, somehow --- but there's an end to
the saga of RHODE ISLAND's public radio stations and Boston
University's WBUR. As expected, WBUR management announced last week
that WRNI (1290 Providence) and WXNI (1230 Westerly) are no longer on
the market, closing the turmoil that began last fall when now-ousted
WBUR leader Jane Christo placed the stations with a broker.
The move prompted an outcry in Rhode Island that helped precipitate
Christo's exit, and it was little surprise that the end of a review by
WBUR's new management led interim GM Peter Fiedler to declare last
week that "we are making a long-term commitment to the listeners of
Rhode Island," including the hiring of a new Providence-based general
manager for the stations (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch June 20 via
DXLD)
** U S A. HOUSE VOTES 25% PBS/NPR FUNDING CUT
House to cut public broadcasting funds
By Chris Baker THE WASHINGTON TIMES [Moony] June 17, 2005
House lawmakers voted last night to slash funding for the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting by 25 percent next year, although they agreed
earlier in the evening to reverse a panel's plan to strip the
organization of all federal funding by 2008. . .
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050617-125244-2342r.htm
(via Kevin Redding, ABDX via dXLD)
** U S A. LO, A WHITE HORSE APPEARS FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
http://www.cjrdaily.org/archives/001608.asp
. . .Sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it?
But what hasn't been explored in any of the stories covering this
issue is a new funding proposal being floated in the House and the
Senate that could make up for the budget shortfall -- with money left
over. Representative Ed Markey, along with Senators Christopher Dodd
and Jim Jeffords, have proposed the Digital Opportunity Investment
Trust Act [linked], which, if passed, would more than make up for the
budget cuts being proposed. Markey brought the bill to the House floor
on May 16, while Jeffords and Dodd submitted it to the Senate on June
11. The upshot of both bills is a unique and forward-thinking one:
Using some of the up to $30 billion expected to be generated by the
government's planned 2008 sale of TV spectrum rights currently held by
PBS (which is abandoning the analog spectrum and going all-digital) to
help fund public programming.
According to a recent Broadcasting & Cable article [linked], the
legislation calls for about 30 percent of the proceeds from the
auction to be funneled into a fund, which would finance some public
broadcasting, as well as educational programs at universities and
libraries. The bill calls for 21 percent of the fund (about $315
million) to go to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The bill
also has an ally in an influential group called Digital Promise
[linked], a coalition of technology executives, university officials
and figures such as retired Senator Bob Kerry and George Lucas.
For all of the problems public broadcasting faces these days, from
Tomlinson's hunt for liberal bias to the proposed budget cuts
threatened by Congress, this is a white horse on the horizon. Markey,
Jeffords and Dodd have put forth an inventive solution to keep public
broadcasting solvent. In the flurry of press concerning Tomlinson and
proposed budget cuts, the bill, for whatever reason, has been all but
invisible. Too bad -- it's one that should generate some serious
public discussion. --Paul McLeary (CJR Daily June 17 via DXLD)
** U S A. Listening to Other Voices, Other Sounds on KUNM, UT June 20,
I was astounded to hear what I recognized as an off-air recording of
the standard ID of another NM station, this one on SW, KJES! The bit
about ``write if you can hear us``, and giving the zipcode 88072. This
was back-announced as a track called ``N.G.`` from ``Aleatory
Element`` by a NY group called Tungsten 74, recorded in Amarillo TX (a
bit close for good skip from The Lord`s Ranch). I know nothing more
about it, and the playlist does not give any other details. However,
the way the ID was cut off by the announcer, it may have been the
beginning of the following track by mistake. Or more likely the end of
N.G., as the KJES non-ID mixed with the preceding music and faded up.
Here`s a review of Aleatory Element mentioning N.G. but not KJES ---
which is recognizable only by genuine SWLs:
http://www.aural-innovations.com/2004/march/tungste3.html
Group`s website is http://www.tungsten74.com/
And here`s where one can buy the CD:
http://www.tungsten74.com/albums/?PHPSESSID=3c76e2ed7a730fb76fb5de6222c04607
A couple tracks, oops, ``songs``, from Aleatory Element, but not the
KJES one: http://www.technicalecho.com/sounds/
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WCBS-FM Tribute Site: http://www.101cbsfm.com/
(via Artie Bigley, DXLD)
** U S A. [Re possible QRM to and from the 42.8 MHz Maj. Armstrong
memorial transmitter at Alpine NJ, WA2XMN]: OK, so it's interesting
that APCO felt they could coordinate a 3-month STA for a broadcast
station on 42.8 MHz with coverage of NYC |grin] (Doug Smith, WTFDA via
DXLD)
Steve's original STA was on 44.1, while he was trying to get APCO to
give him clearance for 42.8. There is, indeed, nothing at all using
that channel in the northeast anymore, so the big concern was Es
interference to the remaining users in the midwest. Good thing the big
broadcast was last weekend and not yesterday! |g|
(That said: I had a nice chat the other day with Chuck Sackermann, who
owns the Alpine tower, and he says there will be more broadcasting
from WA2XMN while the STA remains in effect, through 9/11/05. No
definite dates yet, but I'll try to get some heads-up for everyone.)
Doug's point certainly holds: there's not much public-safety use of
that band anymore! Steve doesn't think a broadcast like this could
have been approved even five years ago. S (Scott Fybush, ibid.)
Last year many 42.8 listings for NV Highway Patrol; now None so I did
current search:
Search 42.775-42.825 MHz range from:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm
None in NJ, NY, CT, MA, CO, WA, AZ, KS
Call QTH MHz Power-Watts Fixed/Mobile
KA4993 State of CA 42.78 100 M
" " 42.82 100 M
KMF454 State of CA 42.82 120 F
KZT491 BRYTE, YOLO County, CA 42.82 110 F
WNMB678 RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 42.82 050 F
WNVM904 VALLEJO, CA 42.82 100 F
KOA485 OREGON, STATE OF 42.78 250 F
" " 42.82 250 F
KYO327 ALKALI LAKE, OR 42.82 300 F
KRV464 CHEMULT, OR 42.78 100 F
" " 42.82 100 F
KVB649 LAKEVIEW, OR 42.82 100 F
WNYF874 SALEM, OR 42.82 300 F
KA5825 ILLINOIS, STATE OF 42.80 110 M (500 units)
(+ numerous others in NC, MN, MO, WY) (Rod Thompson, WTFDA via DXLD)
** U S A. ARRL Field Day schedule from W1AW and K6KPH:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/w1aw-fd-sked-2005-html
(via Dave Raycroft, June 20, ODXA via DXLD)
Don`t see any date mentioned, but I think it`s Sat June 25 (gh, DXLD)
** VENEZUELA. Muchachos y chicas! Esta noche otra vez Sintonía DX
Lunes UTC 0000-0200 entrando a
http://intranet.unionradio.com.ve/intranet/audio/p_cruz/noticia/am640.asp
Quienes no la hayan escuchado anoche... tienen ya la posibilidad de
conectarse ya mismo. No se la pierdan! Comentarios, sugerencias y
colaboraciones enviar a sintoniadx@cantv.net Que disfruten! (Rubén
Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Noticias DX via DXLD)
This 2-hour Spanish DX program, UT Sun 0000-0200 was repeated on short
notice 24 hours later UT Mon; don`t know if this will continue to be
the case. If the webcast is working and the silly ballgames don`t pre-
empt it, Sintonía DX is well worth hearing. José Elías Díaz Gómez has
a wealth of info; I caught the last 1/6 of this week`s show, featuring
archival audio from Henrik Klemetz of Colombian stations such as R.
Sutatenza, Radio Patria Libre; JEDG`s own tapes of RVC-530, WGIT-1660,
etc. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VIETNAM [non]. Radio Free Vietnam (California): No longer listed on
SW on either the LeSea website or their own. Had cut back to just
three days a week during the winter (H. Johnson-USA Jun 5, 2005 in
JihadDX via CRW June 15 via DXLD)
UNIDENTIFIED. Anyone heard Kyrgyz Radio on 4795 kHz lately? I got one
strange language in my earphones on Sunday, June 19th at about 1730 UT
(SIO=101 to 112). Probable sign-off at 1800, since could not hear
anymore. Kinda Asian type music, and language - could pick no ID
though - lots of ute-QRM on LSB side. I wonder if anyone has heard
Bishkek this summer (spring), so I can mark this "unID" as "probably
Kyrgyziya" in my logs. Many AIR stations and e.g. Azad Kashmir that
(Finnish) evening well audible on 60 metres, too. GUD DX and 73 de
(Matti Ponkamo, Drake R4-C, dipole, Naantali, Finland (Maidenhead
locator: KP10AK), HCDX via DXLD)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS
++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAN DIEGO BPL TESTS - GETTING CLOSER
Word from San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) is that they are
still more than 30 days from lighting up the first BPL public test
bed. We are told that the location of that test bed has already been
determined, and may be released later today.
Sometime this month or next month, expect one or two BPL generators to
be lit up at SDG&E's training center off Friars Road between the
ballpark and Highway 163, but that operation will be incidental
compared to the public demonstrations that lie ahead.
So far, ARRL, XETV, CGC and a number of public safety agencies plan to
make interference tests. If you have a legitimate need to make tests
or measurements, contact Bob Gonsett @ CGC for the name and number of
the person within SDG&E who needs to know who your team consists of,
and who will serve as the official spokesman for your group. That
information should probably be finalized and submitted to SDG&E in
written form this week. Bob can be reached at (760) 723-2700. No e-
mail please.
Remember, once the BPL tests are over, they are done. There is only
one bite at this apple (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding,
ABDX via DXLD)
PROPAGATION
+++++++++++
LIVE METEOR SCATTER "PING" SITE
http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/nasameteorradar.html
I've cut and pasted this from the spaceweather web page (note: MSFC is
the Marshall Space Flight Center):
This resource is provided for the public by members of the MSFC
Engineering Directorate. On a typical day, when there's no intense
meteor shower, radar listeners will hear about one ping per minute or
so. Rates could become substantially higher during a meteor shower.
The best time to listen is always during the hours around dawn (0800 -
1400 UT) in Huntsville, AL, where the radar is located.
The MSFC meteor radar is tuned to 67.25 MHz, which allows the system
to record echoes from an array of Channel 4 TV transmitters around the
southeastern USA. All of the transmitters are over the horizon as
viewed from the Marshall Space Flight Center, so it is normally
impossible to detect them. But when a meteor races by, the distant TV
signals bounce off the ionized meteor trail and down onto the MSFC
antenna.
"The antenna we use [pictured left] is a 6-element Yagi; it is a
commercially available cut-to-frequency channel 4 TV antenna sitting
on the ground and pointed straight up," says Dr. Rob Suggs of the MSFC
Engineering Directorate. "We use the CW demodulator on our Icom PCR-
1000 so that 67.250 MHz (channel 4 zero offset) appears at about 700
Hz. This also inverts the passband so that the doppler shift of meteor
echoes is reversed (frequency increases rather than decreases to the
'zero' frequency of the trail echo). The filter is set to 3 kHz
bandwidth and the AGC is turned off."
"The closest transmitters on this frequency are in Dothan, AL,
Charleston, SC, Oak Hill, WV, Little Rock, AR, and Kansas City, MO,"
he continued. "The map, below, shows local Channel 4 zero offset TV
transmitters with a circle around each showing the areas they
illuminate down to an altitude of 100 km (typical meteor altitude).
Although the transmitters are over the horizon for our station on the
ground, a meteor at 100 km over us has a direct line of sight. The
scattering geometry is tricky, that's why we frequently see a meteor
visually but don't hear any echo from it."
There is plenty more on the site, however, you can start hearing
"pings" just a few moments after clicking on the link at the web page.
Pretty Cool Stuff! (Guy in Lockport, NY, Falsetti, WTFDA via DXLD)
Funny they don`t include more distant channel 4 stations, as MS
certainly works well past 1000 miles; maybe less so aiming straight up
rather than toward the radiants lower in the sky. But apparently they
are not interested in identifying each one (Glenn Hauser, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
THE TINY TRAP
+++++++++++++
I was too slow to turn off the TV as one of my unfavorite programs
came on, The McLaughlin Group on PBS and OETA, Sunday June 19; just as
well, since at 1904 UT, Eleanor Clift referred to Vietnam as ``a tiny
country``!!! In total area, today`s SRV is slightly larger than New
Mexico, but its population, mid-1999 per Time Almanac 2000 was over 77
mega. If she was referring to South Vietnam, 35 years ago, those
figures would be less than half; but I can`t imagine anyone who has
ever been to Vietnam considering it ``tiny``, a superlative, or rather
diminutive, which should reserved for the really, really, small, such
as Monaco. As a matter of fact, you don`t have to go there; just use
your head, and/or easily accessible references (Glenn Hauser, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING
++++++++++++++++++++++++
BUSH`S IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES
There are a number of sites dealing with this, but the most
comprehensive is http://www.votetoimpeach.org
(Clara Listensprechen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###